The company's first software-only product, N-code for OS X and XP is an audio encoding tool that makes use of Sony's new compression codec.

N-code Offers ATRAC3plus Encoding for OS X and XP

March 22, 2004

Sonic Studio's first cross platform, software-only product, N-code, is an encoding tool for preparation of audio files for secure download and future music delivery formats. Working in cooperation with Sony's e-Platforms Technology division, N-code is the first professional encoding tool to support their ATRAC3plus codec.

Short for "Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding 3 plus", ATRAC3plus is an enhancement of Sony's original ATRAC3 compression technology originally developed for the MiniDisc format. This latest version analyzes longer periods of audio signals to obtain more detail on input signals and also introduces a newly developed algorithm that achieves optimal bit allocation for a wide range of audio signals. The result is higher quality sound at higher levels of compression. Connect, Sony's new music service which is due to launch in the spring of 2004 will support the ATRAC3plus format.

N-code includes both Macintosh OSX and Windows XP versions and is protected with a hardware key, allowing the product to be easily moved between workstations. 44.1 KHz PCM AIFF and WAV file formats are supported at 16, 24, and 32 bit resolution. Four compression bit rates are provided from 48 to 256kbps. N-code is available exclusively from authorized Sonic Studio resellers worldwide.

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